Mice: Ball Or Optical?
TUNA_Anomay
Join Date: 2003-09-19 Member: 21005Members
Join Date: 2003-09-19 Member: 21005Members
in Off-Topic
Are optical mice still not suitable for gaming, or are they fine now that resolutions have improved (for example the Logitech MX line of optical mice)? Just curious, as I don't want to spend money on one to find that performance is poor in NS! <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
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However, if you wanna go all out, you could always get a Boomslang. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
heck, I find wheel mice are more problematic in general than any optical I've used. The only thing that might screw you up and stuff in the beginning while making the transistion is how high you have to lift the mouse for it not to read the motion lol. It'll become second nature though ^^
It's not very accurate
I would recommend the mx500 (the corded one) as one of the best mice ever. the only thing you can't do with an optical mouse is "whip" it, where you scroll really fast, and pick up with the ball still turning, so you get an extra long rotation. However, it makes up for this with its never having to be cleaned, no breakable parts, and all around betterness. Once I used optical, ball mice were never an option.
One recommendation with optical mice: Get a plastic pad, and try to get one with as many mixed colours as you can. An optical mouse moves by using a camera, see? It takes constant pictures of it's surface and compares them, and if it's changed any, it moves the cursor properly. Sometimes it has trouble comparing the surface when it's just one solid colour or one repeating pattern.
The only problems I've ever had happened when I used my mouse on an uneven surface. (ie. sratched desk)
Otherwise its great!
its your mouse pad that can cause the problems with them.
Make sure that its not a hard one with a clear coat to it.
A plain fabric covered rubber one is all you need.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->One recommendation with optical mice: Get a plastic pad, and try to get one with as many mixed colours as you can. An optical mouse moves by using a camera, see? It takes constant pictures of it's surface and compares them, and if it's changed any, it moves the cursor properly. Sometimes it has trouble comparing the surface when it's just one solid colour or one repeating pattern. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Thats stange advice, I find they work better if you don't have a plastic one.
The plastic makes mine skip due to optic light reflections. I have a plain dark blue pad and it works AWESOME on it.
If you dont mind the battery replacement that comes with it, I say get a cordless mouse. Mine works awesome Best mouse I have ever had Cordless+Optical=win. Only problem is the fact I have to replace the 2 AA batteries twice a month.
I just recently needed a new mouse (button problem, not ball problems) and decided to try the optical.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The only thing that might screw you up and stuff in the beginning while making the transistion is how high you have to lift the mouse for it not to read the motion lol. It'll become second nature though ^^ <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Bingo, that was the biggest problem for me. I got over it eventually. I'm 50/50 now, I could go with either optical or balls.
I think I'll say balls one more time. I think I hear Bevis chuckleing.....
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->The only thing that might screw you up and stuff in the beginning while making the transistion is how high you have to lift the mouse for it not to read the motion lol. It'll become second nature though ^^ <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Bingo, that was the biggest problem for me. I got over it eventually. I'm 50/50 now, I could go with either optical or balls. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
I can honestly say, I've never had that problem...
However, my compaq optical mouse sucks...mouse balls. The one at home, which is an optical mouse works fine. This mouse however, decides to go whacky every 5 minutes or so in game and send my view spinning around or straight to the ceiling or floor. It's just the mouse though, I still recommend optical mice. Their precision isn't that bad.
Despite the fact that my mouse goes hay-wire, it's still very playable...It does annoy me when I'm shooting a skulk head on, and then WHOOOOSH, shooting the floor....bah.
Not so sure about optical ones cos my brother has one and it sometimes makes him look straight up and spin round about 20 times and random points when playing games lol.
I prefer corded optical mice. You don't have a heavy ball that smudges, and you don't have heavy batteries that die at the most inconvenient times (and usually when you're fresh out of batteries). And the problems that optical mice had with fast movements are gone in the newest generations too.
Not so sure about optical ones cos my brother has one and it sometimes makes him look straight up and spin round about 20 times and random points when playing games lol. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
FYI, thats most likely a result of the surface he is using it on.
It's light, fast, flexible etc.
I prefer corded optical mice. You don't have a heavy ball that smudges, and you don't have heavy batteries that die at the most inconvenient times (and usually when you're fresh out of batteries). And the problems that optical mice had with fast movements are gone in the newest generations too. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
What brand do you prefer?
Optical rawks, mine is corded but I don't mind it much. Logitech holds up pretty darn good, plus it glows blue. I mean, how spiffy is that.
Thats stange advice, I find they work better if you don't have a plastic one.
The plastic makes mine skip due to optic light reflections. I have a plain dark blue pad and it works AWESOME on it. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It depends on the mouse, really. If he gets an MX500, I'd recommend the plastic coated one because using a fabric pad with the pads under the MX500 creates extra "drag" when you move the mouse, which annoys me, really. It's just a convienience thing and depends on the mouse.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->In my experience you won't go long with Logitech.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Logitech used to be average, but they're VERY good, now. I've had Logitech keyboards, mice and my current joystick, and they've all held up a lot better than other brands, and performed a lot better, too.
I recommend it to everyone - its got 5 buttons, its comfertable, very responsive.
I like it so much I gave it a name. it's now called Tim ^^
In short - optical mice are now deh win.
I dont mind cleaning the ball every once and a while. They just seem more accurate.